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18 Jun 2015
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Athens - Chios - Cesme ferry
Hi guys,
Hope you can help, I've searched the forum but only found fairly old threads, so not sure what the current situation is.
I'm planning to go from Dublin to Istanbul and back in September and on the way out plan to travel via Balkans and Greece, and on the way back take the shortcut through BG, RO and central Europe.
If all works to the plan, I'll be in Athens to board the ferry on or around 21st Sept. Looking at this website, ferries at this time go on Monday evenings or Wednesday evenings. Wednesday is too late for me, so I want to make it Monday. Then I can take 08:00 ferry from Chios to Cesme on Tuesday.
How busy those ferries currently are? Do I need to book in advance or would just turning up in Piraeus and buying tickets there work? I probably won't need a cabin anyway, just me and bike. Also, if I don't take cabin, is there any place on this boat to get at least a bit of sleep?
What about Chios to Cesme - again, do I need to book in advance?
How bad the Customs is when entering in Cesme? Any other caveats to be aware of?
Thanks so much for your help!
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18 Jun 2015
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A couple of years ago I took a ferry from Piraeus to Kos to Bodrum 2 people/1bike. The boat from Piraeus was a huge ferry, where you could also sleep on deck (we had a cabin).
We stayed a couple of nights on Kos and then took a people/fast catamaran from Kos to Bodrum. There was space for 2 or 3 cars and a few bikes. At Bodrum, we had to buy Turkish road insurance before they let us out of customs. The customs ossifer was happy to call (his mate?) the insurance broker who gladly took my cash. All very easy.
We then headed north through Turkey back to (great uncle) Bulgaria.
Going to Istanbul from SW Turkey I strongly recommend taking the ferry from Bandirma to Sultanhamet. Saves a huge pita riding into the city from the east.
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18 Jun 2015
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Thanks chris!
Is it that bad that ferry boat is justified? I for some reason couldn't get ferry timetable on the ferry website, maybe too far in advance...
My plan too is to just stay 1 day in Istanbul as a rest day and then head to the north Bulgaria/Romania and west back to Ireland. I would've stayed longer but unfortunately the schedule is a bit tight.
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19 Jun 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ddartt
Is it that bad that ferry boat is justified?
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Look at a map and make your own choice. The ferry website for Bandirma to Istanbul/Sultanahmet is İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri A.Ş.
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19 Jun 2015
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Yes, I think you're right, its a big loop there from the east. The site doesn't give me timetable for september yet, but I guess its just too far off as their summer timetable is only valid till 13th Sept. Will check it back later!
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19 Jun 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ddartt
Yes, I think you're right, its a big loop there from the east. The site doesn't give me timetable for september yet, but I guess its just too far off as their summer timetable is only valid till 13th Sept. Will check it back later!
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When I took the ferry it was in December and as far as I can recall it left at 5pm-ish and arrived at Sultanahmet at 9pm-ish. Then it was only 5 minutes ride to the hotel which was near many of the tourist attractions like the Blue Mosque, for example.
I stayed at Hostels in Istanbul - Budget and Cheap Hotels Istanbul at Sultanahmet They allowed me to park the bike on the pavement outside the front door.
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